SMITHKLINE BEECHAM ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF ORAL HEALTH 2000
PITTSBURGH, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- SmithKline Beecham Consumer Brands (NYSE: SBH), maker of Aquafresh toothpaste, Aquafresh Flex toothbrushes and ORAfix denture adhesive, is pleased to announce its support of Oral Health 2000, it was announced today.
Oral Health 2000 is a consortium of dentists and other health care professionals, government agencies, organizations and manufacturers, all united to reach the goal of improving oral health in the United States of America.
SmithKline Beecham Consumer Brands subscribes to the objectives of Oral Health 2000, which are:
-- To reduce the occurrences and severity of oral disease in the U.S. adult population;
-- To prevent the unnecessary loss of teeth resulting from oral disease, neglect or trauma; and
-- To alleviate physical, cultural, racial, ethnic, social, educational, health care delivery system and environmental barriers that prevent individuals from achieving healthy oral functioning.
"There are many excellent dental health programs already in place in this country. By combining the resources of the public and private sectors under the Oral Health 2000 banner, we can call attention to these programs and increase awareness of the need for continuing dental care for all people of all ages," said Maurice L. Kelley, vice president and director of public affairs for SmithKline Beecham Consumer Brands.
Kelley serves as a member of the steering committee of Oral Health 2000, which is chaired by Dr. Raymond P. White, professor of the School of Dentistry of the University of North Carolina. Another committee member, who also serves as the spokesperson for Oral Health 2000, is Dr. C. Everett Koop, former surgeon general of the U.S. Public Health Service. Koop will soon appear in a series of public service spots, an initial project of Oral Health 2000, a program designed to fulfill its goals by the end of the century.
"The dental industry now has the tools and knowledge to improve dramatically oral health in the United States," said Sandor Katz, director of brand management for oral hygiene products at SmithKline Beecham Consumer Brands. "Our next step is to pool all of our resources together to educate the public about proper oral hygiene."
Through the course of this first year of Oral Health 2000, Aquafresh toothpaste, Aquafresh Flex toothbrushes and ORAfix denture adhesive, will conduct a number of cost-incentive and educational efforts to increase awareness of the continuing need for dental care.
SmithKline Beecham, maker of Aquafresh toothpaste, Aquafresh Flex toothbrushes and ORAfix denture adhesive, is one of the world's largest prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.
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/CONTACT: Kelley Murray of Ketchum Public Relations, 412-456-3963, for SmithKline Beecham/
(SBH) CO: SmithKline Beecham Consumer Brands ST: Pennsylvania IN: HEA MTC SU:

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